DU examiners protest way of moderating results

New Delhi: With unusually high marks
obtained by students in Delhi University`s semester results
sparking off allegations of a `marks scam`, a group of
examiners have written to the Controller of Examinations to
register their protest over the "unacademic way of moderating
results".

The memorandum of protest, submitted to the Controller of
Examinations, says the faulty method has "diluted" academic
standards and has made a "mockery" of the evaluation process
that was undertaken seriously and sincerely by the examiners.

Earlier, teachers of the Department of Germanic and
Romance Studies had separately written to the Examination
Branch, making plain their displeasure and stating that they
did not believe in moderation of marks across the board.

Moderation of marks is a process of reviewing assessments
to ensure that grades are awarded consistently and
appropriately. However, the teachers say it is rare for
moderation to lead to large changes in marks for many
students, that has apparently happened this time.

"The results have been moderated to such an extent that
they are unrealistic and defy all logic.... we fail to
understand the method of moderation adopted this time," the
memorandum reads.

It says that the process has raised "serious doubts" in
the minds of students and teachers alike about the process.

"We would therefore like to know the reason why the
University authorities increased the university scores of the
toppers from approximately 73 per cent to 96.6 per cent and
86.6 per cent in the respective papers," they said.

They also pointed out that the quantum-jump in marks
attained by students had no bearing to the actual standards
observed in the course of the evaluation process.

"We strongly protest against this un-academic way of
moderating results that has diluted academic standards and has
made a mockery of the evaluation process undertaken seriously
and sincerely by us," the letter reads.

Some teachers have alleged the unusually high marks
granted to students were aimed at justifying the semester
system that was adopted last year across the board despite
much protest by the teaching community.

"It is rare for moderation to lead to large changes in
marks for many students. When it does happen it is a clear
indicator of some serious fault in the teaching or evaluation
processes," says Abha Dev Habib, member of DUTA Executive.